Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE220101113
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$428,000.00
Summary
Optimal reaction pathways towards advanced energy technology. This project aims to develop a novel lithium-ion battery (LIB) system that delivers high energy-density, a long cycle life, low-cost, and high safety based on conversion-type lithium oxide cathodes. Expected outcomes of this project will address the preliminary challenges for the practical use of lithium-oxide, which requires innovative designs of reaction pathways to lithium oxide cathode and lithium metal anode architectures as well ....Optimal reaction pathways towards advanced energy technology. This project aims to develop a novel lithium-ion battery (LIB) system that delivers high energy-density, a long cycle life, low-cost, and high safety based on conversion-type lithium oxide cathodes. Expected outcomes of this project will address the preliminary challenges for the practical use of lithium-oxide, which requires innovative designs of reaction pathways to lithium oxide cathode and lithium metal anode architectures as well as a fundamental in-depth understanding of the electrochemical and growing mechanisms. This project will establish a manufacturing road-map for a novel lithium-ion battery system in Australia with practical reliability by integrating active lithium oxide cathode, optimized electrolyte, and lithium metal anode.Read moreRead less
Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE220100816
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$430,000.00
Summary
Liquid Metal Nano Metallurgy by Controlled Phase Transition Thermodynamics. The phase transformation thermodynamics of post-transition metals, which form low-melting-point alloys, remain largely unknown. This project aims to explore low-energy metallurgy pathways enabled by liquid metals to discover such dynamics. The strategy is to harvest structured/crystalline materials by incorporating target metal species into liquid metal solvents and stimulating autonomous phase separation and pattern for ....Liquid Metal Nano Metallurgy by Controlled Phase Transition Thermodynamics. The phase transformation thermodynamics of post-transition metals, which form low-melting-point alloys, remain largely unknown. This project aims to explore low-energy metallurgy pathways enabled by liquid metals to discover such dynamics. The strategy is to harvest structured/crystalline materials by incorporating target metal species into liquid metal solvents and stimulating autonomous phase separation and pattern formation during phase transition. Contemporary instruments and technologies will be employed to achieve active control of these fundamental processes at different scales. The expected outcomes will reveal new insights in traditional metallurgy as well as extend metallurgical concepts to electronics, optics, and catalysis.Read moreRead less
Iron-based high-temperature topological superconductors. Because of topological non-trivial nature and zero resistance, topological superconductors are very promising in the application of future electronic devices. This project aims to achieve intrinsic and robust topological superconductors at high-temperature by engineering iron-based superconductors via precisely controlling the defects, chemical doping, interface and substrates. Expected outcomes of this project will include high-temperatur ....Iron-based high-temperature topological superconductors. Because of topological non-trivial nature and zero resistance, topological superconductors are very promising in the application of future electronic devices. This project aims to achieve intrinsic and robust topological superconductors at high-temperature by engineering iron-based superconductors via precisely controlling the defects, chemical doping, interface and substrates. Expected outcomes of this project will include high-temperature iron-based topological superconductors as new material platforms for the study of exotic properties of topological superconductivity and future application in high-temperature fault-tolerant quantum computing. Read moreRead less
Ferroelectric bilayer composites with giant electromechanical properties. This project aims to create a novel bilayer ferroelectric material structure that provides giant electromechanical response at the nano-scale. Traditional electromechanical devices based on ferroelectric materials including position sensors, mechanical actuators, and ultrasonic transducers rely on bulk form. As technology moves toward integrated functionalities, future electro-mechanical materials need to be scaled down t ....Ferroelectric bilayer composites with giant electromechanical properties. This project aims to create a novel bilayer ferroelectric material structure that provides giant electromechanical response at the nano-scale. Traditional electromechanical devices based on ferroelectric materials including position sensors, mechanical actuators, and ultrasonic transducers rely on bulk form. As technology moves toward integrated functionalities, future electro-mechanical materials need to be scaled down to thin film form. Currently, doing this induces mechanical constraints that dramatically suppress the electromechanical response. Using this approach one layer relieves this mechanical constraint while the other gives a giant electromechanical response, providing a pathway for future functional devices. Read moreRead less
Topotactic Control of Magnetism in Multiferroic and Skyrmion Materials. The engineering and utilisation of multiferroic and skyrmion materials is currently receiving tremendous attention as they offer a plethora of fascinating phenomena for fundamental research and future technological applications in nanoelectronics and high density data storage. One bottleneck for applications is the precise control of magnetism in single phase materials. The project is expected to deliver insight into synthes ....Topotactic Control of Magnetism in Multiferroic and Skyrmion Materials. The engineering and utilisation of multiferroic and skyrmion materials is currently receiving tremendous attention as they offer a plethora of fascinating phenomena for fundamental research and future technological applications in nanoelectronics and high density data storage. One bottleneck for applications is the precise control of magnetism in single phase materials. The project is expected to deliver insight into synthesis and properties of new topotactic magnetic materials. The utilization of topotactic transitions (reversible stoichiometric changes in materials that lead to changes in the crystal structure) can be seen as a new concept for designing controllable multiferroic and skyrmion host materials for future nanoelectronics.Read moreRead less
Magnetic skyrmion materials for next generation spintronic-based devices. Magnetic skyrmions are a novel class of materials with unique spin arrangement, making them suitable for the next generation of information processing and storage with ultrahigh density and extremely low energy consumption. This project aims to establish Australia as a world authority in the field of magnetic skyrmions and their applications, by developing ground-breaking materials and advanced technologies. The expected o ....Magnetic skyrmion materials for next generation spintronic-based devices. Magnetic skyrmions are a novel class of materials with unique spin arrangement, making them suitable for the next generation of information processing and storage with ultrahigh density and extremely low energy consumption. This project aims to establish Australia as a world authority in the field of magnetic skyrmions and their applications, by developing ground-breaking materials and advanced technologies. The expected outcomes of this project include the creation of new functional materials, leading to a better understanding of the skyrmions and producing a foundation for the future development of novel information storage devices.Read moreRead less
Ultrathin III-V Solar Cells via Crack-Assisted Layer Exfoliation. III-V semiconductors are excellent photovoltaic materials with highest demonstrated solar-to-electricity conversion efficiencies, but find limited usage in terrestrial applications due to high material and fabrication costs. This project aims to improve the cost-effectiveness of III-V solar cells by developing ultrathin III-V semiconductors via crack-assisted layer transfer approach and epitaxy-free fabrication via heterojunction ....Ultrathin III-V Solar Cells via Crack-Assisted Layer Exfoliation. III-V semiconductors are excellent photovoltaic materials with highest demonstrated solar-to-electricity conversion efficiencies, but find limited usage in terrestrial applications due to high material and fabrication costs. This project aims to improve the cost-effectiveness of III-V solar cells by developing ultrathin III-V semiconductors via crack-assisted layer transfer approach and epitaxy-free fabrication via heterojunction architectures, paving the way for cost-effective, high-efficiency, flexible solar cells. The expected outcomes include a disruptive technology for integrated photovoltaics, novel contact and passivation materials, as well as new knowledge generated in materials science and optoelectronics disciplines.Read moreRead less
Neuromorphic Sensing and Diagnostics with Carbon: Towards a Biomimetic Nose. Neuromorphic electronics emulates cognitive processes of the brain and like the brain, is capable of extracting features and recognising patterns within data with extremely low energy requirements. Carbon materials are naturally adapted to neuromorphic electronics and uniquely form a compatible interface for sensing molecules in liquid and gaseous media. This project aims to develop a carbon-based neuromorphic electroni ....Neuromorphic Sensing and Diagnostics with Carbon: Towards a Biomimetic Nose. Neuromorphic electronics emulates cognitive processes of the brain and like the brain, is capable of extracting features and recognising patterns within data with extremely low energy requirements. Carbon materials are naturally adapted to neuromorphic electronics and uniquely form a compatible interface for sensing molecules in liquid and gaseous media. This project aims to develop a carbon-based neuromorphic electronic sensing device and couple it with carbon based neuromorphic pattern recognition technology to build an ‘artificial nose’ for improved health and environmental monitoring. Intended outcomes will include a technology for low-cost and rapid diagnostic services.
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Multiferroic Skyrmion Materials for Next Generation Nanoelectronics. Topological structures, such as domain walls, vortices and skyrmions have recently seen considerable attention due to their potential application in nanoelectronics and new electronic device concepts. These structures are key to the design and understanding of novel functionalities in ferroic materials. The aim of the project is the investigation of fundamental properties of multiferroic skyrmion materials, i.e. their nanoscal ....Multiferroic Skyrmion Materials for Next Generation Nanoelectronics. Topological structures, such as domain walls, vortices and skyrmions have recently seen considerable attention due to their potential application in nanoelectronics and new electronic device concepts. These structures are key to the design and understanding of novel functionalities in ferroic materials. The aim of the project is the investigation of fundamental properties of multiferroic skyrmion materials, i.e. their nanoscale structure, surface topology, dynamics and their interaction with external stimuli. The control of these structures through external electric and magnetic fields, as well as strain and light will be investigated for applications in nanoelectronics and data storage.Read moreRead less
Porous Electromaterials for Hydrogen Production and Energy Storage. This project aims to develop nanocomposite electrodes and membranes for efficient production of renewable hydrogen and the next generation of high-energy-density battery technologies. This will be accomplished by the engineering of multi-scale porous materials with tuneable electrical, chemical and morphological properties using earth abundant elements. The intended outcome is the establishment of a scalable methodology for the ....Porous Electromaterials for Hydrogen Production and Energy Storage. This project aims to develop nanocomposite electrodes and membranes for efficient production of renewable hydrogen and the next generation of high-energy-density battery technologies. This will be accomplished by the engineering of multi-scale porous materials with tuneable electrical, chemical and morphological properties using earth abundant elements. The intended outcome is the establishment of a scalable methodology for the structuring and effective integration of microporous materials in highly conductive scaffolds, achieving superior charge and molecular transport, as well as high surface activity. Broad social and economic benefits are anticipated providing new technological solutions for renewable energy storage and fuel production.Read moreRead less